Optician&#39;s strap-former and gage-pliers.



No. 796,647. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

Z. P. HIGHSMITH.

@ OPTIGIANS STRAP FORMER AND GAGE PLIERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1903. RENEWED JAN. 16.1%5.

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PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

Z. P. HIGHSMITH. OPTIGIANS STRAP FORMER AND GAGE PLIERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1903. RENEWED JAN. 16.1905.

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PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

No, 796,647. Z. P. HIGHSMITH.

OPTICIA'NS' STRAP FORMER AND GAGE PLIERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1903- BBNBWBD JAN.16, 1905.

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ZEBULON F. HIGHSMITH, OF

SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN S. DUFFIE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

OPTICIANS STRAP-FORMER AND GAGE-PLIERS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed November 21, 1903. Renewed January 16, 1905. Serial No. 241,351.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ZEBULON F. HIGHSMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sumter, in the county of Sumter and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Opticians Strap- Formers and Gage-Pliers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an opticians strap-former and gage-pliers; and it consists in a pair of pliers having attached thereto a device whereby the frames of rimless spectacles may be formed and gaged to fit the lenses used.

In the accompanying drawings the attachment is shown as applied to a pair of parallel pliers; but it may as well be applied to ordinary pliers, in which case it is necessary to form recesses in the inner faces of the jaws, beginning at their points and running backwardly; also, to fasten the U-shaped joint over and to the central portion of the pliers or over the rivet that holds same together instead of on one of the jaws. In the drawings, however, I have only shown the parallel pliers.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view of my pliers, the blades being open. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same, the blades being open. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the double hinge. the bearing, and the blades pivoted to one of the jaws of the pliers. Fig. A is a perspective view of a modified form of my pliers, one of the blades in place and holding a blank form. Fig. 5 is an edge view of a modified form of my pliers, the blades being open. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of my modified form, the blades being closed. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a nose-piece, the straps being shown at each end. Fig. 8 is a face view of one of the blades. Fig. 9 is an edge view of one of the thicker blades, and Fig. 10 is an edge view of one of the thinner blades.

My invention is described as follows:

The numeral 1 represents a pair of parallel pliers, 2 the handles, and 3 the jaws. Secured to the outer face of one of the jaws is a double hinge 4, which turns up over the face of the same jaw and terminates in a U-shaped bearing 5 immediately over the center of the two jaws of the pliers. In this U shaped bearing is hinged a number of blades 6, 7, 8, and 9. There may be as many of these blades as required, and they may be of various thicknesses, from a millimeter up. These blades are shaped as follows: The blade proper consists of a strap, of fine steel or other suitable material, terminating at its rear end in an eye 6 (see Fig. 8) and turning down near its front end, forming an-elbow-arm 0, then turning forward at right angles to said elbow and parallel to said blade, forming a nose d. The said bearing 5 is so constructed and arranged that all of said blades may be shut and closed between the jaws of said pliers at one time or so that any one, two, three, or more of said blades may be shut between said jaws at one time. The rear ends of the blades are so shaped that they will butt against the joint U when shut in between the jaws of the pliers to prevent their passing through farther than desired while being used and in like manner while open. The numeral 10 represents the nose-piece of a pair of rimless spectacles, to each end of which are secured what is known in the opticians art as straps 11. These straps are manufactured of various thicknesses and with various spaces between their ends, so as to fit the different thicknesses of lenses. Now these blades may be of various thicknesses, as stated, and for the sake of illustration and explanation we will say the nose or blade 6 is one thirty-second of an inch thick, blade 7 is onesixteenth of an inch thick, blade 8 is one-eighth of an inch thick, and blade 9 is one-fourth of an inch thick. Now if the lens is only one thirty-second of an inch thick and the strap having too much space between its ends, I put the strap astride the nose of the blade 6 and turn said strap and nose down between the jaws of the pliers and press them firmly together. This reduces the space between the ends of said straps to the thirty-second part of an inch; if the lens be one-sixteenth of an inch thick, then I perform the same operation, using blade 7', if the lens be oneeighth of an inch thick, I perform the same operation, using blade 8; if the lens be onefourth part of an inch thick, I use blade 9, and so on. Thus I am able by my combination of blades and pliers to form my straps to suit any thickness of lenses. Thus it will be seen I am able to do a large variety of this kind of work with a small supply of this kind of stock. 7

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 6 of my modified form that if the U-shaped points thereof bearing is rigidly secured to one of the jaws the blade 1 nearest the jaw to which it is hinged will fit snugly against the inner face of said jaw, but that the blade 9 farthest away from said jaw if turned down alone would stand oif some little distance from the first-mentioned jaw and that when the jaws were brought together the blade would have to spring in order to properly press together the ends 11 of the nose-piece 10, which might not make a perfectly neat job, and therefore to avoid this trouble I use the double hinge 4 and 5, consisting of a short strap 4, pivotally secured to the edge of one of the jaws, and to the other end of said short strap I hinge one end of another short strap 4, and to the free end of said short strap 4: I pivot the U-shaped hinge-bearing 5. Now it will be seen that as the short strap 4: is pivoted to the jaw the blades may be moved, so as to give them the exact position required to do their work, and as the strap 4, to which the hinge-bearing is pivoted, is hinged to the said strap 4 the said blades may be adjusted crosswise, so that any one of the blades may be made to fit snugly against the jaw to which it is hinged, and thus avoid the spring above mentioned.

These pliers are useful in the manufacture of not only rimless eyeglasses, but spectacles as well.

As I have said, these blades may be mounted on a pair of ordinary pliers; but parallel are preferable, because they leave the straps or perfectly parallel with each other after the bending.

The points of the jaws and the noses of the blades are slightly rounded, so as to conform to the circle of the lenses.

This tool may not only be used by opticians, but by mechanics, merchants, or other persons who have straps to adjust or gage, and this invention may also be used as an ordinary pair of pliers by simply turning the blades out and up from between the jaws.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A strap-formingtool, consisting of a pair of pliers 1; a short strap 4:, secured to the edge of one of thejaws; another short strap L, having one end hinged to the other end of said strap 4; a hinge-bearing 5, pivoted to the free end of the last-mentioned strap, and blades 6, 7, 8, and 9, hinged in said bearing, the free end of each being turned down, and formed into noses (Z, adapted to fit between the jaws of said pliers, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. An opticians strap-forming tool, consisting of a pair of parallel pliers; a strap secured to the outer edge of one of its, jaws,

turning up over the upper face of the same, and terminating in a U-shaped hinge-bearing; blades of different thicknesses hinged to said bearing, their free ends adapted to fit and be clamped between the jaws of said pliers, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. Astrap-forming tool,consisting ofapair of pliers; a strap 4, secured to the outer edge of one of the jaws of said pliers, turning up over the upper face of same, and terminating in a U-shaped hinge-bearing, and blades 6, 7, 8, and 9, of different thickness, one end hinged in said hinge-bearing, the other terminating in a nose (2, fitting between the jaws of said pliers, and adapted, in conjunction with said jaws, to form the lens-straps of eyeglasses and spectacles, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. A strap-forming tool, consisting of a pair of pliers 1; a U-shaped bearing 5, secured to the face of one of the jaws 3, of said pliers, and extending over to the center between the jaws of said pliers; blades 6, 7, 8, and 9, of different thicknesses, .one end hinged in said hinge-bearing, the other terminating in a nose d, fitting between the jaws of said pliers, and adapted, in conjunction with said jaws, to form the lens-straps of eyeglasses and spectacles to fit the lenses, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

5. A strap-forming tool, consistingof a pair of pliers 1, its jaws rounded at their ends; a U-shaped bearing 5, secured to the face of one of said jaws, and extending over to the center between said jaws, and blades 6, 7, 8, and 9, of different thicknesses, one end hinged in said hinge-bearing, the other terminating in a rounded nose cl, fitting between the jaws of said pliers, and adapted, in conjunction with said jaws, to form lens-straps of eyeglasses and spectacles to fit the lenses, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

6. Astrap-forming tool, consisting of a pair of parallel pliers; a strap pivoted to the upper face of said pliers; a U-shaped bladebearer pivoted to the free end of said strap, and blades of different thicknesses, having one end hinged in said hinge-bearing, the other end terminating in a nose d, and adapted to fit between the jaws of said pliers, substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

ZEBULON F. HIGHSMITH.

Witnesses:

BARTON WALSH, JAMES G. R. WILDER. 

